Top 5 best African players around the world in 2020

With another thrilling year of football in full swing now, it’s time to check out the world’s best African players in 2020.

Some of the best African players in recent history have graced Europe from George Weah to Samuel Eto’o. The list is endless, with the continent constantly producing more talents. A bright future clearly lies ahead.

Many football greats, including Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, continue to impact on the sport to this day. Their successes have inspired countless young footballers to never give up on living the dream.

And this season alone, we’ve already seen several players step up superbly for their respective clubs. They’ve upped their game impressively and will be contenders for the Player of the Year awards.

So here we give you the Top 5 best African players around the world in 2020.

5. Riyad Mahrez

The 29-year-old enjoyed a fantastic year in 2019 by winning the Premier League in his debut campaign with Manchester City. FA Cup and Carabao Cup success completed a remarkable domestic treble. Not a bad start, right?

But Mahrez went one better last summer by defying all odds to lead Algeria to the Africa Cup of Nations. He scored three times, including the winner against Nigeria in the semi-finals. While some solid defensive work helped secure victory over Senegal in the final.

Fresh from last year’s successes, Mahrez has carried over his red-hot form into this season. He’s already just three goals shy of registering double digits in the Premier League alone.

The Algerian is easily one of the best African players out there.

4. Kalidou Koulibaly

The Senegalese has been a rock in the Napoli defence since his €7.75m transfer from Genk in 2014. His consistently strong performances have made him one of the best centre-backs in European football.

Koulibaly even won the Serie A’s Best Defender award for 2018/19 after helping Napoli finish second.

Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain both expressed an interest in signing him during the summer of 2019. For various reasons, though, a transfer never materialised.

Although this may all be about to change soon considering Napoli’s struggles in the Serie A this season.

3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

While things haven’t gone Arsenal’s way this season, Aubameyang continues to plunder in the goals. He keeps proving his mettle as one of the best African players.

The Gabon captain is already just five goals shy of equalling last season’s tally of 22 goals in the Premier League. Considering Arsenal have scored 39 times, that means he’s scored 43% of the club’s league goals.

Without a doubt, he will be instrumental to Arsenal’s hopes of salvaging even a top-six finish.

The big question is, whether Aubameyang will still be a Gunner for next season? Don’t be surprised if clubs queue up for him if Arsenal don’t qualify for Europe.

2. Mohamed Salah

The Egyptian is enjoying the greatest phase of his career with Liverpool.

Upon winning the Champions League last season, Salah seems set to win a Premier League title in 2020. All that’s missing is an AFCON crown for Egypt to complete his career haul.

But that’s only half the story, with Salah continuing to deliver strong displays over at Anfield. He’s won back-to-back Golden Boot awards in the Premier League, albeit the last one he shared. While a third one remains a possibility this season.

Fifth and sixth-place finishes in the last two Ballon d’Or polls prove that Salah is no one-season wonder either. It proves that he is definitely among the world’s elite, with Real Madrid interested.

The 27-year-old is, perhaps, one of the best African players of all-time now.

1. Sadio Mane

Number one spot in this best African players list belongs to Sadio Mane.

The Senegalese forward has raised his game to new impressive heights over the last two seasons. Therefore, he’s become vital in a Liverpool squad already containing Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

Mane shared the Golden Boot award with Salah and Aubameyang in last season’s Premier League on 22 goals. He capped it off by helping Liverpool win the Champions League.

And while the 27-year-old was unlucky not to win the AFCON with Senegal last year, his red-hot form hasn’t diminished. If anything, Mane has only improved since then.

Finishing fourth in the 2019 Ballon d’Or was a great achievement, even though he may have deserved better.